We would venture to say that not a lot of serious business transpired in Houston at midday last Wednesday as the majority of men who make things happen in this city seemed to all be gathered in the ballroom of River Oaks Country Club. It was after all the seventh annual Men of Distinction luncheon and the honorees were, let's just say, awesome.

With Don Jordan, former Reliant Energy CEO, as Men of Distinction chairman and a heavy-hitter steering committee, the non-profit sailed through the luncheon. Total proceeds raised by the annual event since its founding reached the $7 million mark with funds directed to the Texas Medical Center. Expenses for the luncheon were underwritten by J.D. Fields and Co., represented on this day by Pat Burk. Houston Area Lexus Dealers served as presenting sponsor.

Consider just a few of the major players in the room — Harris County Judge Ed Emmett, Baylor College of Medicine president and CEO Paul Klotman, Houston Symphony CEO Mark Hanson, Rice University president David Leebron, mayoral candidate Ben Hall, John Daugherty Realtors' John Daugherty and GP Natural Resource Partners CEO Corby Robertson.

Most of the 16-member steering committee members were there including Steve Mach and Harry Mach (the Mach family a key luncheon underwriter), Michael Mithoff, Tony Gracely, Ed McMahon, John Eads, Jesse Tutor, Paul Sommerville, Scott Evans and Leslie Bowlin Bennett.